Helen Zavodny

Helen Marie Zavodny, of David City, passed away peacefully at Brookstone Care Facility on May 1, 2026, at the age of 92.

Memorials can be designated towards St. Mary's Catholic Church or the Butler County Senior Center.

Helen's funeral mass will be live streamed to St. Mary's YouTube page, https://youtube.com/live/RLoJ8ALX7S8?feature=share

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in David City. Visitation will be on Wednesday, from 5 until 7 p.m. at Moravec Johnson Mortuary. Visitation will resume Thursday at 9:30 at the church with a parish rosary at 10 a.m. Burial will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery with lunch following at the David City Auditorium. Moravec Johnson Mortuary is assisting Helen's family with arrangements.

Helen was born on April 16, 1934 to Michael and Bertha (Behne) Dehner near Brainard, Nebraska. Helen and her older sister Margaret grew up on a farm 3 miles west of Brainard. She attended Holy Trinity grade school and graduated from Brainard High School in 1952.

Helen married Leonard Zavodny on January 27, 1953, at Holy Trinity Church in Brainard, Nebraska. The family lived at Brainard and later moved to David City. They were married for forty-four years. Helen was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and an active member of the Catholic Daughters until her final illness. Throughout her life she was an avid gardener, including growing vegetables and flowers. She was very proud of her roses. After retirement, she went on many bus trips and enjoyed volunteering at St. Joseph’s Court, an assisted living facility. She was an active member of St. Mary’s Church and praying the rosary daily was important to her. She also enthusiastically attended as many of her grand and great grandchildren’s sporting and performance events as she could.

She baked some of the best kolache and cinnamon rolls anywhere. Her family will always remember holidays at her house and the duck, dumplings and sauerkraut she prepared for those occasions. Her recipes are still used by her children and their spouses.

Helen is survived by her son, Don, and his wife, Janice Wagner of Lincoln, their sons, Ben of Lincoln and Michael of Brooklyn, NY; daughter Anita, and her husband John Klement of Ulysses, and their sons, Jim, and his wife Sheila of Ulysses, Jeff of Ulysses, Chuck of Columbus and Bill, and his wife Misty of Fort Calhoun; son Mike Zavodny, and his partner Veronica Moran of David City, and his children, Nathan of Bellwood, Christine Prothman and her husband Casey of Waverly, and Samantha of Lincoln. Great grandchildren include: Haley, Dylan, Jacob and Cole Klement; Madison and Mathew Klement; Jordan Zavodny; Corwin and Kingsley Bienka, and Vincent and Dominic Pallard. She is also survived by her sister Margaret Furasek and numerous nieces and nephews.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Bertha Dehner, her husband Leonard, an infant sister Mary Ann, and brother-in-law Tony Furasek.